Food dispensing device



Nov. 25, 1952 M. STRANAK ETAL 2,619,117

FOOD DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 10, 1950 j 11v ENTORS Z7 Z4 33 M/c/MEL s AMA 4K,

F/G a BY 51/5273 8. L/lV/V,

Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE FOOD DISPENSING DEVICE Michael Stranak and Everts B. Linn, Murray, Ky.

Application November 10, 1950, Serial No. 195,054

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an apparatus for handling foods, and more particularly to a fooddispensing device of the type wherein, as food is being dispensed from the freezing compartment forming a part of the apparatus, the compartment is being simultaneously replenished from a source of supply.

Food-dispensing devices of the type particularly adapted to cold-treat and extrude custard, ice cream, sherbet and the like in a semi-solid condition often include a manually actuated dispensing valve connected to the freezing compartment of the apparatus and a separately actuated valve connected in the closed system between the freezing compartment and the source of supply. When using such food-dispensing devices, considerable difiiculty has been encountered in maintaining a predetermined amount of food in the freezing compartment. Often, when the custard, ice cream and the like is being vended, the freezing compartment is allowed to become completely empty. The resultant delay in replenishing the apparatus causes a loss of valuable time and sales.

An object of this invention is to provide a device for cold-treating and extruding foods which is particularly adapted to be automatically fed from a source of supply during the vending of the food.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for cold-treating and extruding foods which can be fed from a source of supply in an amount predetermined by the amount withdrawn from the device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a food-dispensing device of the type previously described which is relatively simple in structure and cheap to manufacture.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the fooddispensing device constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the food-dispensing device of the present invention, taken from the left of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the food-dispensing device shown in Figure l; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a connecting linkage forming a part of the fooddispensing device of the present invention.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the vseveral views to designate like parts, there is shown a food dispensing device, generally designated by the reference numeral It, of the type which is particularly adapted to cold-treat and extrude custard, ice cream, sherbet and the like in a semi-solid condition. The fooddispensing device It includes a freezing compartment II adapted to contain a predetermined amount of food to be discharged, the freezing compartment II being supported on a fixed base I2.

Positioned contiguous to the forward end of the freezing compartment II is a, manually actuated dispensing valve I3 which is supported in communication with the freezing compartment. The dispensing valve I3 includes an outlet I4 for the egress therethrough of the food to be dispensed and a vertically disposed valve element I5 which is rotatably supported and con-' trols the egress of food through the outlet I4.

rear end of the base II is a reservoir I6 which is supported on the base I2 and is adapted to contain a food charge which is to be intermittently supplied to the freezing compartment II. The type of charge carried within the reservoir I6 is, of course, determined by the food being dispensed from the valve I3.

Connected between the reservoir and the adjacent rear end of the freezing compartment II is a closed system or conduit I'I including a pump I8. As the charge from the reservoir I6 is pumped through the closed system I 1, air is usually mixed therewith to give the desired palatability and consistency to the finished product which is withdrawn from the dispensing valve I3.

Connected in the closed system I 1 between the,

reservoir I6 and the pump I8 is a control valve I9 for selectively permitting the fiow of food charge from the reservoir I6 through the closed system I! and into the freezing compartment I I. The control valve I9 includes a horizontally disposed, rotatable valve element 20 which is actuable contiguous to the dispensing valve I3 by means of the horizontal control rod H which has one end connected to the horizontally disposed, rotatable valve element 29 and has the other end rotatably supported contiguous to the forward end of the freezing compartment I I and provided with a transversely extendingv handle 22.

Interconnected between the dispensing valve I3 and the control valve I9 is a linkage structure 23, Figure 4, for opening the control valve I9 in response to the opening of the dispensing valve I3. The linkage structure 23 includes a crank 2% having one vertical leg 25 disposed axially of the rotary valve element I5 and rigidly secured thereto.

The securement of the leg 25' of the crank 24 to the rotary valve element I5 is effected by providing the valve element l5 with an axially extending threaded bore and threading the adjacent end of the leg 25, as indicated by the reference numeral 26. Supported on the threaded portion 26 of the leg is a lock nut 21 which is engageable with the adjacent end of the valve element l5, as shown in Figure 2, to aid in the securement of the crank 24 to the valve element 15. Disposed transversely of the rotary valve element 20 of the control valve l9 and the control rod 2| is a lever 28 which has one end detachably secured to the control rod 2|. The securement of the lever 28 to the control rod 2| is effected by means of a collar 29 carried contiguous to one end of the lever, the

collar 29 being circumposed about the rod 2| and secured thereto by means of the thumb screw 3|] which is supported on the collar 29 and is selectively engageable with the rod 2|. Thus, the lever will swing in a vertical plane when the control rod rotates. Formed integrally with or secured to the other end of the lever 23 is an enlarged head 3| which is provided with an aperture 32 therethrough.

Similarly, the horizontal leg 33 of the crank 24 has its free end provided with an enlarged head 34 which is provided with an aperture 35 therethrough. Extending between the head 34 of the crank 24 and the head 3| of the lever 28 is a connecting link 35 which has its ends laterally offset, as indicated by the reference numerals 31 and 38, the offset end 31 being rotatably received within the aperture 35 of the head 34 by means of the pin 39 and the offset end 38 being rotatably received and supported within the aperture 32 of the head 3| by means of the abutment 40.

Under actual operating conditions, it is necessary to employ a dispensing valve |3 which can be opened in response to the rotary movement of the valve element IS in one direction and a control valve l9 which can be opened in response to the rotary movement of the control valve 20 in the opposite direction. For example, if the dispensing valve I3 opens in response to a clockwise movement of the valve element l5, as viewed in Figure 3, the control valve l9 must be movable to an open position in response to the rotary movement of the valve element 20 in a counterclockwise direction. Upon effecting a rotary movement of the control element l5 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, the leg 33 will swing in a horizontal plane, and a force will be exerted on the connecting link 36 to rotate the lever 28 about the longitudinal axis of the control rod 2| and the valve element 20. In this manner, when the dispensing valve I3 is opened to vend the custard, ice cream or the like, the freezing compartment is replenished in an amount predetermined by the amount of food withdrawn through the dispensing valve 13.

While only one embodiment of the food-dispensing device of the present invention has been described, it is readily apparent that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a device for cold-treating and extruding foods, a freezing compartment adapted to contain a predetermined amount of food to be dispensed, a manually actuated dispensing valve including a rotatable valve element connected to said freezing compartment in communication therewith for the egress therethrough of the food, a reservoir adapted to contain a food charge positioned contiguous to said freezing compartment, a conduit connected between said reservoir and said freezing compartment, a control valve including a rotatable valve element connected in said conduit for selectively permitting the flow of the food charge through said conduit and into said freezing compartment, and means connected between the rotary valve elements of said dispensing valve and said control valve for opening the control valve in response to the opening of the dispensing valve, said means including a crank having one leg disposed axially of the rotary valve element of said dispensing valve, said leg being rigidly secured to the dispensing valve element to rotate jointly therewith, a control rod extending axial- 1y of and rigidly secured to the rotary valve element of the control valve for rotation therer, a lever disposed radially of and rigid with said control rod, and a connecting link extending between said lever and the other leg of said crank and pivotally connected therebetween, said link connecting the lever and said other leg for joint swinging movement responsive to rotation of the first-named leg.

2. In a device for cold-treating and extruding foods, a freezing compartment adapted to contain a predetermined amount of food to be dispensed, a manually actuated dispensing valve including a vertically disposed rotatable valve element connected to said freezing compartment in communication therewith for the egress therethrough of the food, a reservoir adapted to contain a food charge positioned contiguous to said freezing compartment, a conduit connected between said reservoir and said freezing compartment, a control valve including a horizontally disposed, rotatable valve element connected in said conduit for selectively permitting the flow of the food charge through said conduit and into said freezing compartment, and means connected between the rotary valve elements of said dispensing valve and said control valve for opening the control valve in response to the opening of the dispensing valve, said means comprising a crank having a vertically disposed leg arranged axially of said rotary valve element of said dispensing valve and rigidly secured thereto, the other leg of the crank swinging in a horizontal plane responsive to rotation of the vertical leg, a horizontal control rod disposed in end-to-end relation with respect to the rotary valve element of said control valve and rigidly connected thereto, a lever disposed radially of and rigid with said control rod to swing in a vertical plane for rotation of the control rod, and a connecting link extending between said lever and the other leg of said crank and pivotally connected therebetween, said link connecting said other'leg and the lever for joint swinging movement responsive to rotation of said vertical leg.

MICHAEL STRANAK. EVERTS B. LINN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 754,216 Hentgen Mar. 8, 1904 1,464,893 Vonde Ve1d Aug. 14, 1923 1,675,231 Stoke June 26, 1928 2,507,255 Kaufman May 9, 1950 

